Primula plant named ‘KERPOLSOPIN’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Primula elatior  plant named ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ is disclosed, characterized by large, soft pink, double flowers borne on umbels held above the foliage. This combination is large double flowers on a polyanthus type  Primula  is a novelty. Plants are vigorous and sterile. The new variety is a  Primula elatior , suitable for outdoor landscape and container use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Primula elatior.

Variety denomination: ‘KERPOLSOPIN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program under thedirection of the inventor, David Kerley. The objective of the breedingprogram was to produce new Primula elatior cultivars with abundantdouble flowers for commercial ornamental purposes. The new cultivarresulted from crossing of the seed parent, an unpatented, unnamed,proprietary variety of Primula elatior, and the pollen parent, adifferent unnamed, unpatented, proprietary variety of Primula elatior.The crossing resulting in the new variety was made in April of 2010 at aresearch greenhouse in Cambridge, UK. Selection of the new variety‘Kerpolsopin’ was made in March of 2011, by the inventor at a researchgreenhouse located in Cambridge, UK.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ was firstperformed in Cambridge, UK during March of 2012, by tissue culture. Thisand subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ as a new and distinct Primulacultivar:

-   -   1. Polyanthus type Primula with large flowers.    -   2. Double flowers.    -   3. Distinctive soft pink flowers.    -   4. Flowers borne above foliage on an umbel.    -   5. Vigorous plants.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants ofthe new cultivar differ in the following:

-   -   1. New cultivar has double flowers; seed parent is single        flowered.    -   2. New variety is sterile; seed parent is fertile.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants ofthe new cultivar differ in the following ways:

-   -   1. New cultivar has double flowers; pollen parent is single        flowered.    -   2. New variety is sterile; seed parent is fertile.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new variety can be compared to plants of the Primulaelatior cultivar ‘Kerpolila’, co-pending application Ser. No.17/403,377. The inventor is unaware of any other large, doubled-floweredpolyanthus type Primula with which to compare the new variety. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdom,plants of the new Primula differed from plants of the cultivar‘Kerpolila’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. New variety's flower color is near White N155N and Purple        N75B; comparator's flower has a small amount of White N155C,        main colors of Purple 77B and 77C with a margin near 77A.    -   2. Plants of ‘Kerpolisopin’ are taller than plants of        ‘Kerpolila’.    -   3. Foliage of ‘Kerpolisopin’ is darker green than foliage of        ‘Kerpolila’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ grown in Over, Cambridge, United Kingdom,in a glass-covered greenhouse. This plant was about 7 months old whenthe photographs were taken. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 5 to 15 degrees C. and night temperaturesranged from 2 to 12 degrees C.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of a typical flower of ‘KERPOLSOPIN’. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart, 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ plants grown in a greenhouse inCambridge, United Kingdom. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 1.5 degrees C. to 25 degrees C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 1.5 degrees C. to 15 degrees C. No chemical orphotoperiodic treatments were given. Measurements were taken duringSpring and numerical values represent averages of typical floweringtypes.

-   Botanical classification: Primula elatior ‘KERPOLSOPIN’.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 200 days from a weaned    tissue culture liner.

PROPAGATION

-   Method: Tissue culture.-   Root description: Fibrous, colored near RHS White 155A.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, compact and uniform. Flowers borne on umbels    above foliage.-   Height: Approximately 21 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 29 cm.-   Branching characteristics: No branches, foliage emerges basally.-   Vigor: Vigorous.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Basal, simple.        -   Average length.—Approximately 21 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 8 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Crenulate, slightly undulating.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, slightly rugose.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Rugose with veins prominent.        -   Color.—Developing foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            144A. Developing foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            144A and 144B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS 137A.            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Greyed-Green overlaid with Greyed-Purple 184D near leaf            base. 145C and 145D. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Greyed-Green 195B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 8 mm.        -   Diameter.—About 1 cm.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Greyed-Green 195B. Lower            Surface: Near RHS Greyed-Green 195A and 195B.        -   Texture all surfaces.—Glabrous, smooth, slightly hirsute            margins.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Recurrent flowering during the Spring under United    Kingdom outdoor conditions. Very free flowering.-   Inflorescence: Umbel. Average diameter range 14 to 18 cm. Average    depth 5 cm.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.-   Fragrance: None.-   Flowers per inflorescence: 18 to 23 flowers and buds. 3 to 4    inflorescences per plant at one time.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Height.—2.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Color.—RHS Purple 75B.-   Individual flower:    -   -   Shape and aspect.—Rotate, double. Upright and outwardly            facing.        -   Diameter.—5 cm.        -   Depth.—3.3 cm.        -   Petals.—45 to 50 per flower, in several concentric whorls.        -   Length (including tube).—3.1 cm.        -   Width.—2.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Obcordate.        -   Apex.—Emarginate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing petals, upper surface: Basal region near            Yellow 12A (small region, barely visible on undissected            flower), main color near White 155C with a rim of near            Purple-Violet N82B. Developing petals, lower surface: Basal            region near Greyed-Yellow 160B, main color near White 155C            and 155D with a rim of near Purple-Violet 82C. Mature            petals, upper surface: Basal region near Yellow 14A (small            region, barely visible on undissected flower), main color            near White N155N turning near Purple N75B towards the            margin. Mature petals, lower surface: Very base of petal            near Yellow 4A. Main color near White 155C and 155B becoming            near Purple N75B towards the margin with a narrow rim of            N75A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 in a single whorl; fused at            base. Length: 2.3 cm. Width: 8 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acute. Texture upper surfaces: Glabrous. Texture upper            surfaces: Hirsute. Color, upper surface: RHS Yellow-Green            146B. Color, lower surface: RHS Yellow-Green 147B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—15 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—8 mm.        -   Orientation.—Vertical, straight.        -   Strength.—Very strong.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 195A overlaid with            Greyed-Purple 186A.        -   Texture.—Hirsute.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Pedicel length.—5 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—2 mm.        -   Orientation.—Near vertical on opening flower, dropping to            horizontal (90 deg to peduncle) with age in the manner of            umbel flower form.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 195B overlaid with            Greyed-Purple 186A.        -   Texture.—Hirsute.-   Bracts:    -   -   Quantity per pedicel.—1.        -   Length.—1.2 cm.        -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.        -   Texture upper surfaces.—Glabrous.        -   Texture upper surfaces.—Hirsute.        -   Color, upper surface.—RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Color, lower surface.—RHS Yellow-Green 144A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Development of reproductive organs has not been observed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Plants of the new Primula have not been noted to    be resistant nor susceptible to pathogens and pests common to    Primula.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Primula have been observed    to have tolerated temperatures from about −5 to 28 degrees C.-   Fruit/seed production: Fruit and seed production not observed,    flowers are sterile.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Primula plantnamed ‘KERPOLSOPIN’ as herein illustrated and described.